Tape switch having zig zag insulator means



1966 R. H. KOENIG 3,270,160

TAPE SWITCH HAVING ZIG ZAG INSULATOR MEANS Filed July 19, 1965 INVENTOR.ROBERT H. KOEN IG United States Patent 3,270,160 TAPE SWITCH HAVING ZIGZAG INSULATOR MEANS Robert H. Koenig, Cambria Heights, N.Y., asslguor toTapeswitch Corporation of America, Elmont, N.Y. Filed July 19, 1965,Ser. No. 472,925 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-86) This invention relates to tapeor ribbon switches and more particularly to tape switch means which arenarrow and flexible.

Tape or ribbon electrical switches are used in many applications, forinstance on edges of automatic doors, power windows, as control formachines, horn blowing signaling switch in automobiles, for burglaryalarms and many other applications.

There is a need for a tape switch which is narrow enough to be used ondoor edges and window edges and steering wheels and flexible enough tobe coiled without short circuiting the switch.

The present invention provides such a switch generally comprising afirst lower conductor member which consists of a plurality ofoverlapping leaves, a strip of insulating material having alternatesections mounted along opposite edges of the conductors and a topconductor mounted on the insulating strip and having the same width asthe bottom conductor. The top conductor is a continous strip. Thissandwich assembly is enclosed in an insulating waterproof cover ofplastic or rubber. The insulating strip is cemented to or otherwisefixedly connected to the upper conductor. The leaves of the lowerconductor are adapted to slip relative to one another and are held inplace by the external cover.

Since the insulating strip is mounted along the edges of the conductivestrip, when foot, hand or other pressure is applied to the switch, thefree ends of the conductor strip contact thereby energizing anyconnected control, alarm, or other utilization device.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved tape switch means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved ribbonswitch means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tapeswitch means which is flexible enough to coil without short circuiting.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tapeswitch means which is narrow enough to mount in restricted spaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tapeswitch means for making easy manufacturing and which is durable andeconomical.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the invention withoutthe cover.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1 in assembledposition.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 2 alsoillustrating the cover.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view illustrating the operation of theinvention.

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of a modification.

Referring to the figures, the invention generally comprises an upperconductor strip 1, an insulating strip 2 and lower conductor stripconsisting of overlapping leaves 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. The conductor stripsare preferably of a spring tempered metal and may be as narrow as A;inch.

The insulating strip 2 comprises a strip of dielectric material orrubber of square wave shape, with alternate sections of the strip beingmounted on the opposite edges 3,270,160 Patented August 30, 1966 "ice ofthe upper strip for instance by cementing. The lower conductor stripcomprises a series of conductive metal elements or leaves which areoverlapping. The purpose of the compound construction of the lowerconductors 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. is to make this member stretchable so thatwhen coiled or flexed, it may adjust itself and prevent buckling due tothe diiferent radii of the two strips caused by thickness of thedielectric strip 2.

A feature of this invention is that the switch will not be disabled whenflexed with conductors 3, 4, 5, 6, on the outside of the curve, sinceconductors will remain parallel and apart at all points until pressed,and ends of the segments will be stressed away from the solid conductoreliminating any possible shorting out. In actual practice, there is noshorting from reasonable flexing in either direction.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross section of the switch taken at any point betweencrossovers. Dielectric strip 2 would appear on the left or right assection cut is taken along the switch. The jacketing 7 is extruded overthe entire assembly to hold it together and give it protection. Thecover 7 is of insulating material and serves to protect and waterproofthe switch and hold the bottom leaves in position. At the ends of theswitch suitable lead wires or terminals are attached and the cover issealed.

As shown in FIGURE 4, force against the top will bring conductors 1 and3, 4, 5, 6 together to close the circuit of the switch.

Materials for conductors may be any good spring conductor, for instancePhosphor bronze, beryllium copper, tempered and clad steel, etc.Dielectric strips 2 may be stamped or cast from plastic or rubber.

Thees conducting switch members are held apart as shown in FIGURE 3 bydielectric material 2, until force is applied at any point to bring thetwo conductors together as shown in FIGURE 4.

In operation, conductor 1 is pushed down to touch the lower conductorsbetween the crossovers of part 2. These occur at alternating sides ofthe switch, depending at what point the force is applied. When force isapplied exactly at a crossover point, contact action will still takeplace because the force of a finger or other member will be broad enoughto bridge the crossover. Furthermore, resilience of the jacketing 7 willdistribute force to either side of the crossover.

The configuration of FIGURE 5 which is a modification of the sameinvention, eliminates the crossover strips and the dielectric takes theform shown, namely a series of separate strips, alternate strips beingmounted along opposite edges of conductor 1.

The showing in FIGURE 5, is inverted in order to illustrate the mountingof the strips 10, 11, and 12 which are cemented on or otherwise aifixedto the conductor 1.

The thickness of the conductors may be quite thin, in the order of .005inch. Typical spacing between the crossovers of the insulator may be oneand one half inch and the thickness is preferably .010 to .020 inches.However, it is not limited to this thickness.

This assembly may be made in continuous indefinite lengths. Inassembling the invention, the insulation is first cemented or otherwiseaffixed to the conductor 1. This assembly is placed on top of the lowerconductor and this sandwich assembly is then placed into an extrudingmachine which extrudes the waterproof insulating jacket which serves tohold the lower conductor in place and protect the switch. In practice, anylon yarn binder could be Wrapped around the assembly to te1rl1(porilyhold parts in place before extruding the plastic jac et.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claims:

I claim:

1. A tape switch comprising a first top conductor of uniform width,

insulating strip means mounted on said first conductor,

said strip means having substantially less width than said uniform widthand having alternate sections mounted along opposite edges of said firstconductor,

a second conductor member mounted on the bottom of said insulatingstrip,

said second conductor having a plurality of elongated overlappingconductive leaves,

and a cover of insulating material surrounding said assembly of saidfirst and second conductor and insulating strip.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said alternate sections of saidinsulating strip means are connected together.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said alternate sections of saidinsulating strip means are separate.

4. A tape switch comprising a first top fiat conductor of uniform width,

insulating strip means mounted on said first conductor, said strip meanshaving substantially less width than said uniform width and havingalternate sections mounted along opposite edges of said first condoctor,

and a second conductor strip means mounted on the bottom of saidinsulating strip,

said second conductor strip means having a plurality of flat elongatedoverlapping conductive leaves.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said alternate sections of saidinsulating strip means are connected together.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said alternate sections of saidinsulating strip means are separate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,896,042 7/1959Koenig ZOO-86 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. H. A. LEWITTER,Assistant Examiner.

